EPA Finalizes Rule on Steam Electric Power Plant Wastewater Discharges

The United States Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule on October 1, 2015 that sets the first federal limits on the levels of toxic metals, namely mercury, lead and selenium, in wastewater that can be discharged from power plants.  The rule will affect the more than 1,000 steam power electric plants in the United States, 134 of which will require new investments to meet the new effluent limitation guidelines.  The new requirements do not apply to power plants that are oil-fired or those smaller than 50 megawatts.

"New technologies for generating electric power and the widespread implementation of air pollution controls over the last 30 years have altered existing wastewater streams or created new wastewater streams at many power plants, particularly coal-fired plants. The 2015 rule addresses these changes in the industry," the EPA said in a statement.

The final rule establishes  requirements for wastewater streams from processes and byproducts associated with steam electric power generation, including flue gas desulfurization, fly ash, bottom ash, flue gas mercury control and gasification of fuels such as coal and petroleum coke.

According to the EPA, the costs of the final rule are estimated to be $480 million per year.